Real Madrid vs Gérone: Will Azzedine Ounahi shine?

The journey of the native of Casablanca has experienced broken trajectories since his international explosion in 2022. While his talent had pushed Olympique de Marseille to invest 8 million euros in January 2023, the Phocaean adventure did not go as planned.

Hampered by a toe fracture sustained against Brazil, he never managed to establish himself permanently at the Vélodrome. Pushed towards the exit by Roberto De Zerbi, he chained a loan to Panathinaikos before the French club finally transferred him to Gérone last August for 6 million euros, according to El Mundo.

"I don’t play for money"

In Catalonia, Ounahi seems to have found an environment conducive to his development, a choice in which his compatriot Yassine Bounou, the club’s former goalkeeper, played a major role. During his presentation, the player displayed a clear philosophy: "I don’t play for money, but to enjoy and to grow." This approach seduces his coach, who is counting on his creativity to get the team out of the bottom of the table.

His technical profile is the pure product of the Mohammed VI Academy, the flagship infrastructure of Morocco’s strategy for the 2030 World Cup. This large-scale project is, however, the subject of debates in the country, with some young people believing that investments should prioritize health. The midfielder has also joined these social demands, a civic engagement that doubles his sporting challenge when facing the Madrid stars.